HomeMacityAndroid World The key to understanding the new Urbanista Lisbon headphones is certainly accessibility, and it could not be otherwise for a pair of headphones for 49.90 euros. However, there are many details that are worth underlining, from the build quality to the sound quality, for a model that stands out from the crowd.
Eco-friendly color
Whether it is a product intended for a younger audience can already be understood from the box, which comes in the same color as the headphones (among a pink of five different colors: Pink, Black, Yellow, Green and Orange).
The same, made entirely of cardboard, winks at the ecological needs that never hurt: once opened, the headphones find space in the charging cradle, a small USB-C / USB-A cable and a small manual. instructions.
the thin rubber covering (partially) the headphones is the best aid when wearing, because it allows them to adapt perfectly to the shape of the ear The cradle is made of plastic, with the writing hollowed out in the upper part, the USB-C connector in the back and a small white LED that indicates operation and charging in the front one.
Inside there are the earphones, whose shape is Half-Ear, also in plastic and in the same color as the cradle.
The wireless earphones are covered three-quarters with a small layer of transparent rubber that offers the right softness and viscosity when wearing and, thanks to a ring that protrudes, they hook to the inside of the ear and remain stable.
Things that are there, things that aren't
The connection is simple, thanks to the Bluetooth 5.2 connection, the earphones are compatible with the vast majority of devices in circulation, capable above all of optimizing consumption for a long duration, as we will see.
There is no supporting App, which is a bit of a shame because the writer likes to play with the equalizer, but the absence of an App is a feature we had already seen in the Urbanista Athens model.
For this price range, however, the presence of an App is undoubtedly optional and does not affect the type of listening for which they are designed.
In usability they offer a basic experience, there are no proximity sensors and the headphones continue to sound even if removed from the ears, as well as are not suitable to be worn at the sea or in the shower.
On the other hand, we were surprised by the extreme wearability of the earphones: the rubber offers the right compromise between grip and comfort and once worn, given the completely insignificant weight, in practice it is like not having them (and in the Rosa model, between the 'other, you can't even see it).
The battery life is also very good: admittedly 9 hours of continuous playback, which we have almost reached, and three full charges from the cradle (for a maximum of 27 hours of listening) are a good seal for a model whose dimensions are really minute.
The only note is that the volume tends to be lower than the average of the other models, so you need to give a couple of more notches to the volume of the smartphone as compensation.
For young and old
If for shape, look and usability these Urbanista Lisbon are cut for a purely adolescent audience, from the point of view of the sound quality the response was good, and it crossed very well even on more articulated pieces, thus embracing an even more demanding audience.
Despite the reduced shape, the Urbanista Lisbon offered a very good audio experience: they cover all frequencies quite well, leaving only those where bass are important, while increasing the detail in the higher frequencies.
The 10 mm drivers, with frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz work well, very well if we consider the size and shape, with SBC and AAC codecs suitable for Android but especially for iPhone.
Color is one of the most intriguing aspects of headphones In the audio tests we did we appreciated String's Englishman In New York, as well as Wellness Blue's Caribbean Blue and Elton John's Rocket Man, although we think the headphones gave the maximum idea of their potential in more articulated songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (in the remastered 2001 edition).
On songs such as Shout by Tears For Fears, Nothing compares 2U by Sinead O'Connors or Tell Me Now by Hans Zimmer (the latter much more complex given the articulated vocalism of Moya Brennan) clearly lacked that sonic depth of the basses that manage to create the environment, but still talking about difficult pieces, we also liked a lot with Orinoco Flow by Enya and Carmina Burana: O Fortuna by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
We also tested the headphones with some Audible audiobooks, listened to satisfactorily, with different results depending on the voice reading them. The voices of the dubbers were much better than those of the authors, often less “tonic” and sometimes mixed in some passages.
Less suitable for watching movies, where they work well but often do not offer that atmosphere suitable for watching an important film: they are clearly designed for musical use.
Considerations
The Urbanista Lisbon are an excellent listening companion for those who want a pair of lightweight, practically transparent headphones, whose battery is not a problem and with an affordable price, which practically covers all kids aged 12 to 18.
They do not have the qualities and accessory functions of more expensive headphones, but they offer comparable audio quality, the coloring that makes them trendy and the immediacy of those who do not get lost in non-fundamental functions and think (above all) about music.
The absence of a support App is perhaps the biggest flaw, for those who love to modulate the response of the music, but in the design of this brand perhaps it is a secondary flaw.
The headphones are so small that they practically disappear inside the ear
Pros:
• Excellent price / performance ratio • Comfortable and practical • Excellent audio
Cons:
• A support App is missing
Price:
• € 49.90 (in the colors Pink, Black, Yellow, Green and Orange)
The Urbanista Lisbon are available directly from the Italian website of the parent company or you can find it more conveniently also at Amazon.it
